UK video games market exceeds £5bn in 2017

The UK games market in 2017 was worth £5.11 billion, (€5.7bn) up 12.4 per cent year-on-year with gains almost across the board, according to figures from UK trade body Ukie.

The launch of the Nintendo Switch was the main cause for hardware figures booming by a huge 29.9 per cent, and the rise in VR gaming also played a part in boosting the market.

Game software accounted for the majority of sales, with online and digital games the most popular. Non-digital boxed games also saw a surprise small rise in sales, driven by the popularity of titles such as FIFA 18, Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto.

Dorian Bloch, senior client insight director for entertainment, at market research firm GfK, commented: “It is clear that the console gaming market is now enjoying a renaissance.”

Dr Jo Twist, chief executive of Ukie, added: “New hardware such as the Switch have driven retail sales, virtual reality hardware looks healthy and digital games across all platforms continue to grow,” she added.